Grapegrowers in Central Otago say a devastating weekend frost put them three weeks behind the start of the growing season.
Bitterly cold westerlies brought snow to the south on Saturday, making it too windy and too cold for farmers to use wind machines to protect crops.
Gibbston Valley viticulturalist Gary Crabb says it will be a couple more days before the full extent of the damage is known.
He says the frost will put him behind schedule, but it will not affect the quality of the grapes when harvested next year.
